I'm Walking! (with a little help)

We've really been working with Ava lately on using her walker or our hands to walk. She really likes it and will walk pretty far as long as she has something to hold on to or doesn't run into things. :) I finally got it on video today. This morning, she really wanted me but I wouldn't get her even though she was only a few feet away. She was standing next to the couch and instead of dropping to her knees and crawling to me, she let go of the couch and took a step towards me. She then lost her balance and fell to the ground but I was so proud of her! She is so cute and it won't be long before she starts walking completely on her own.

I Get It Now!

Ava has a little walker that we have been encouraging her to use. She will take a few steps with it but then falls to her knees. She'll walk across the room with it but she'll be on her knees. She keeps getting better and better and will take an extra step once in awhile. Well, she just figured out that the front of the walker has a toy. As you can see from the video, she just loves it now. Sometimes she'll throw the ball at it expecting the ball t go in the hole. It's so funny to see her face when it doesn't. We are really enjoying this age. She is so much fun and is always ready to learn something new. Her other newest thing is clapping. She will clap when we say, "Yay, Ava!" or when she is finished eating! Clapping is her way of saying all done. It's not the correct sign but oh well, at least she's using something! :)

Update

The doctor called yesterday and everything came back negative. YEAH!!! No iron supplements!!! :) Thanks for all your prayers!

Doctor's Visit

On Monday, Ava had her 10 month checkup (supposed to be 9 Month but we got off schedule). Ava weighed in at 17 lbs. 3 oz. and is in the 12th percentile. She is 27 inches long and in the 50th percentile. She has actually gone down in weight since our last visit. She was in the 20th percentile at her 6 month visit. She is doing so well developmentally though. She is crawling all over the place, pulling herself up, walking from furniture to furniture, trying to let go and walk on her own, and pointing at everything she sees! Our doctor was very happy with everything she is doing and wasn't too concerned about her weight loss. But, due to her weight loss, our doctor wanted us to get some blood work done to make sure she isn't anemic. She goes on very long stints of not wanting to eat anything unless it's crackers and french fries! :) I went to the grocery store yesterday and bought a bunch of food for her that is high in iron. We also started her on 1 sippy cup of formula a day to give her some extra nutrients that she may not be getting from me. So far, she seems to like the formula but loves to spit it back out at me! Silly girl! Yesterday we went in to do the blood work and I was very nervous about it. She had to have blood drawn back in November when she had the flu and she did not do very well during that. She was such a trooper last night. She was smiling the whole time they were looking for the vein and then of course, cried when they poked her. She didn't cry as hard as she has in the past and was such a big girl! We were very proud of our little girl! Our doctor will call us tomorrow with the results. Here are a few pictures afterwards with her bandage on her arm!

More Pictures

Ava being silly!
Aunt Paulette, Ava and I outside a gift shop in Vero Beach, FL.
Uncle Tom, Aunt Paulette, Curt, Ava and I with the Atlantic Ocean in the background. It was a beautiful day...high 78 and not a cloud in the sky!

Curt's parents and us at the beach.
Ava playing in the sand. She loved it. She was a very good girl and just crawled around on the blanket and sand. She even got a taste of it but didn't really know what to think.

BIG UPDATE!!!

Sorry about the lack of photos the past few weeks. We have been really busy with family visiting. My Uncle Dave, Aunt Judy and cousin Michael were here over Michael's spring break. They stopped by to see Ava (well, Curt and I too but mainly Ava!). Ava loved Michael!

Curt's parents came last Thursday for about 5 days to visit. We had a great time with them and Ava fell in love with her Grandpa and Grandma. :) We went to the beach, pool, Leu Botanical Gardens and took a few walks. The weather has been absolutely perfect and we have really enjoyed spending more and more time outside.

Here are a bunch of my favorite pictures from the past few weeks.
Grandma and Ava

Ava in her piggy pj's from Grandpa and Grandma! Thank you for all the summer pj's! :)

Ava playing with Grandpa and Grandma (she looks so serious!)
Ava doing her favorite thing....taking magazines out of the basket and wripping them apart.

Swinging at the playground.

At the pool with Grandpa.

In her new swimsuit at the pool.

In the pool with Daddy.

At the botanical gardens with Grandpa.